What is the cost of living in Parkersburg, WV?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Parkersburg has an overall cost of living index of 80, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to West Virginia, Parkersburg has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than West Virginia's index of 86.
The standard of living in Parkersburg ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 30 places we measured in West Virginia. By definition, that implies Parkersburg ranks as the #29 most expensive place in the Mountain State.
For more reading on life in Parkersburg, check out:
Parkersburg Cost Of Living Vs. West Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Parkersburg. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Parkersburg is 95.
The Groceries index in Parkersburg is 97.
The Health index in Parkersburg is 55.
The Housing index in Parkersburg is 90.
The Transportation index in Parkersburg is 95.
The Utilities index in Parkersburg is 88.
| Living Expense | Parkersburg | West Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 80 | 86 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Health | 55 | 61 | 100 |
| Housing | 90 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 88 | 93 | 100 |
Parkersburg Cost Of Living Compared To West Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around West Virginia, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In West Virginia
- Most Affordable Cities In West Virginia
- Average Rent In West Virginia
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Parkersburg, WV Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in West Virginia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Parkersburg is $147,802.
The Median Rent in Parkersburg is $785.
The Median Income in Parkersburg is $49,025.
The Home Value To Income in Parkersburg is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Parkersburg is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Parkersburg | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $147,802 | $174,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $785 | $872 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $49,025 | $59,608 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.0x | 2.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Parkersburg, WV Costs By Category
Detailed Parkersburg Services costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Parkersburg | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.18 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.41 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $13.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.78 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $46.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed Parkersburg Groceries costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Parkersburg | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.57 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.35 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.83 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.16 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.19 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.56 | $3.7 |
Detailed Parkersburg Health costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Parkersburg | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $172.33 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $158.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $107.83 | $113.29 |
Detailed Parkersburg Transportation costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Parkersburg | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.36 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $52.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Parkersburg Utilities costs vs. West Virginia
| Item | Parkersburg | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $189.47 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.09 | $192.25 |
Parkersburg SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Parkersburg
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Parkersburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Murray, UT has a cost of living index of 118, 1.5x Parkersburg.
Athens, OH has a cost of living index of 96, 1.2x Parkersburg.
Marietta, OH has a cost of living index of 88, 1.1x Parkersburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Parkersburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murray, UT | 50,188 | 118 | 1.5x |
| Athens, OH | 23,396 | 96 | 1.2x |
| Marietta, OH | 13,203 | 88 | 1.1x |
| Newport, OR | 10,583 | 116 | 1.4x |
| Vienna, WV | 10,518 | 88 | 1.1x |
| Logan, OH | 6,993 | 88 | 1.1x |
| Belpre, OH | 6,654 | 88 | 1.1x |
| New Martinsville, WV | 5,133 | 83 | 1.0x |
